Business Meeting: Thursday 4th June

Another rush day! Early morning finished off the DIY cards (just as many as I need for tonight), and printed the AGM's.
This evening we had a business meeting. I’ve brought this forward in the programme as there are a number of events coming up, a few potential charity donations, and plenty of other topics and issues that we need to discuss, so there is plenty to cover. We’re at the Hatherton Country House hotel. I arrive, fresh from voting, just as the church is chiming 8:30, so grab a pint and sit down to dinner. I kick things off by getting some additional ideas of what we might do this year: what new activities people want to do, and what they’d like to see change. This is done via post-its splattered across two walls of the Penkridge Suite, a fair amount of running (and jumping) around, and a good amount of hilarity. We have 14 at dinner, and Paul joins later just for the business part.
In Penkridge I believe we have a reasonable balance between formal and informal events. Most meetings are informal activity type events (like the tobogganing). However for business meetings we generally have a meal, have an agenda, and ask that members wear suits. The agenda gives things structure, and the meal means that we’re all seated, so it’s easier to get things discussed in an orderly manner. Many issues are discussed then voted on, so we have a secretary to keep notes of the key issues and to keep a record of voting and outcomes, that get distributed as minutes after the meeting. I’ve always enjoyed business meetings, partly because this is the focussed part of table that ensures things get done, and decisions made, but also because they’re also good fun – just getting 15 guys together over a meal and a few beers is always entertaining. The challenge I have this year as chairman is keeping some order to these proceedings.
We manage to get through virtually everything I wanted to cover, and get a decisions made on everything, and end the meeting at 12:04 – with the traditional end-toast: RTBI!
[Round Table Britain & Ireland]